Cotton-packer.



No. 893,145. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

" E. B. CASS.

OOTTON' PACKER- APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 12,1907.

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E. B. CASS. COTTON PAOKBR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12,1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERAL B. CASS, or VALLEY MILLS, TEXAS.

GOTTON-PACKER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERAL B. OAss, residing at Valley Mills, in the county of Bosqueand State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Packers, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relates to certain new and useful improvements in machines for packing cotton and the like, and in its generic nature the invention embodies a packer box and a follower cooperating therewith, a cotton feeding mechanism, mechanism actuated by the follower for stopping the feeding mechanism while the follower is o erating to pack a bale of cotton and to startt efeeding mechanism when the follower is withdrawn from the packing box, means for driving the follower, means for starting the follower driving gear to be actuated by the cotton when the feeding of enough cotton to form a bale is nearing completion, and mechanism for automatically stopping the follower driving gear when the follower is withdrawn from the packing box and reaches the starting position.

In its generic nature, the lnvention embodies certain novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of arts, all of which will be first specifically escribed, then pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings; in which Figure 1, is a side elevation of my invention, the packing box being shown in central, vertical section and the parts in the osition they'assume while the plunger is pac ing the cotton. Fig. 2, is a similar view of a part thereof showing the position of the parts when the lunger is at the upward limit of its stroke and while the feed rollers are feeding cotton into the box. Fig. 3, is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4, is a detail view of the clutch devices cooperating with the main drive shaft and follower, showing the position of the parts when the pulley and shaft are locked to rotate together. Fig. 5, is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the clutch is released. Fig. 6, is a detail enlarged to plan of the cotton feed roller clutchmec anism. Fig. 7, is a detail view of a modified form of plunger carried rack member. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of the horizontal rack shown in Fig. 7, taken along the line 8-8. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section on the line 99 of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a modified view of my invention herein- Spebification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 12, 1907. I Serial No. 401,897.

Patented July 14, 1908.

after referred to. Figs. 11 & 12 are detail views partly in section and partly diagrammatic, illustrating a modified form of feeding mechanism for the cotton from the condenser to the acking box which may be used in lieu of the elt feed shown in Fig. 3, (dotted lines) of the drawings.

Referring now to the accompanying drawin s, in which like letters and numerals of re erence indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 designates a plunger fixedly secured to and forming a carrier for the follower 6, which plunger 1 has side guides 1 to run in groove tracks 5 in the sup orting casting 5 which is rigidly secured to t e beams of the frame of the packer above the acking box 21.

The plunger 1 has an endless rack drive consisting of the parallel side ortions 1 d and the semi-circular ends 1 w ich unite the parallel side portions 1 Integrally formed with the plunger 1 is a guide bar 25 which cooperates with an antifriction roller 2 on the main drive shaft 27 adjacent the pinion 2 in mesh with the rack portions 1 and 1 at all times.

The main driveshaft 27 is journaled at one end in a swinging bearing 3 which is pivoted to a cross beam 4 on the frame of the machine and the shaft 27 has its other end ournaled in a bearing box 27 su ported on the post 21 which box 27 may ave a slight pivotal movement to allow of the lateral movements of the shaft 27 which will hereinafter be morev fully referred to.

7 designates a swinging gate ivotally mounted at 7 to the cross bar 26 o the supporting frame, which gate 7 is adapted, when the plunger 6 is elevated, to rest closely adjacent the cotton space above the packing box 21 so as to be engaged by the cotton when the box 21 is filled. The gate 7 carries a latch operating link member 8 which is secured to a latch 9 that is fulcrumed at 9 to the lift bar 10 which has vertical movement in brackets 22 secured to the frame of the machine. The latch bar 9'has a notch 9 to cooperate with a lever llfulcrumed at 11 to a fixed support and having its other end 11 projected through a bracket 24 on a fixed part of the supporting frame of the machine. The lifter bar 10 is adapted to be enga ed by the top of the plunger 6 while being lifted at a certain time, in order to operate the latch 9 to lift the lever 11 for a'purpose which will presently appear.

13 designates a weighted bar vertically hinged in bearings in the main frame of the machine and adapted to have its lower end 13 engaged by the top of the plunger 6 toward the limit of its upward movement, the bar 13 being connected with a bell crank lever 13, that in turn connects with a clutch rod 23 which operates the clutch 24 on the condenser shaft 12, a sprocket wheel 12 being carried by the shaft 12, around which an endless sprocket chain 19 passes, the chain 19 also passing over idler gears and gears 19 19 on the feed roll shafts 17 -18 upon which the feed rollers 17 and 18 respectively are carried, the rollers 17 and 18 rotating in the discharge mouth from the hopper 14 into which the cotton is fed or dropped from the condenser. The endless chain 19 also passes around a sprocket 20 on a shaft 2O which operates an endless eonveyer on which the cotton is adapted to fall and rest while the plunger 6 is on its downward stroke, as will be hereinafter more fully apparent.

Themain drive pulley 37 rotates loosely on the drive shaft 27 and has a clutch hub 38 which is provided with clutch portions 33 adapted to cooperate with a clutch block 30 on a lever 16 that is fulcrumed on a casting 39, at 16 secured to and rotatable with the shaft 27. The lever 16 is held in its normal position with the block 30 in engagement with the clutch hub 38 by a coil spring 32 mounted on a rod 32" which is pivoted to the lever 16 and passes through an ear 39, on the casting 39, an adjusting nut 39 being provided, as shown.

29 designates a lever fulcrumed at 29 to the casting 39, and spring pressed to its normal position by a spring 28, the lever 29having a ratchet portion 29 adapted to engage the clutch portions 38 of the clutch hub 38 to prevent the plunger from operating more rapidly than the. speed at which the ma chinery is run when the shaft 27 is locked by the clutch to rotate with the wheel 37 around which the drive belt passes.

The lever 16 is arranged to be engaged, at times, by the lever 11 in a manner which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown a slightly modified form of casting, by reference to which it will be seen that the casting, in this form is provided with a central rack member 35 to cooperate with the pinion 34 on the shaft 27, and when this form of invention is used, the end of the shaft 27 may be rojected into a guide groove 33 and proviced with a friction roller, if desired, so as to hold the pinion in engagement with the rack 35, as indicated.

So far as described, the manner in which my invention operates will be best explained as follows :Assume the parts to be in the position shown in 1, with the follower compressing the cotton into the box 21, when the parts are in this position the clutch on the shaft 12 will be thrown out of gear and the sprocket chain 19 will be i1'1o )erative.

At this time cotton is being deposited on the endless apron, from the condenser, and, is accumulating cotton, ready to be fed into the box 21 at the proper time. As soon as the follower 6 has reached the lowermost limit of its stroke, the gear 2 will ride around the circular portion 1 of the rack of the plunger 1 and start to elevate the follower 6. As the follower 6 is elevated it will engage the lifting bar 10 which will in turn lift the latch 9, cansing the notch 9 to engage the lever 11, and thus lift the same into the path of rotation of the lever 16, which will then engage the lever 11 and throw the clutch block 30 out of engagement with the hub 38 and. disengage the shaft 27 from operation, it being understood that this disengagement does not occur until the follower 6 has practically reached the uppermost limit of its stroke. As the follower 6 ap roaches the upper limit of its stroke it will lso engage the weighted bar 13 and elevate the same, transmitting its motion through the bell crank lever, and throwing the clutch on shaft- 12 into action, thus causing the endless chain 19 to rotate and operate the feed rollers 17 and 1S and feed cotton under the follower 6. As soon as the box 21. has been filled, the cotton will engage the swinging gate 7, causing it to swing outwardly and release the lever 11 from engagement with the latch 9, thus permitting it to drop to its normal position. out of the path of rotation of the outer or free end of the lever 16, and permitting the spring 32 returning the lever 16 to its normal position with the clutch block in engagement with the clutch hub and thus again lock the pulley 37 to the shaft 27 to rotate the same, and operate the plunger 6 to again pack the cotton. As soon as the plunger has reached the lowermost limit of its stroke, the forego ing operations are repeated. It should. be understood that any suitable type of receding follower may be used, if desired.

Fig. 10 discloses a modified. constructi m of devices for elevating the lever 11, and. when this form is used a weighted shaft 50 is adapted to be engaged by the piston at times to operate the latch and elevate the lever 1 1., as will be clearly understood by refcrringto the drawings.

In Figs. 11 and 12, I have shown partly in section and partly diagrammatic, a modified construction of cotton feeding mechanism from the condenser to the packing box, and by reference to these figures, it will be noticed a chute 100 into which the cotton is deposited feeds the same to the packing box, and as the cotton is fed into the chute 100, it is forced toward the packing box by arms fulcrumed at 7O on cranks 70 that are carried by the shafts 70 which may be driven by pulleys 7O around which the endless belt or chain 19 from the condenser shaft 12-may pass. The arms 80 are fulcrumed at 60 to the cranks 60 which have an oscillatory movement from a shaft 60 that is journaled in suitable bearings, as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings, the relative movement of the cranks 60 and 70 being such that while the arms 80 have their ends 80 projecting into the path of the cotton, through the chute 100, they serve to move the cotton toward the cotton box, but on the return stroke will be withdrawn from the chute and I carried with the point 80 back to the startber of s mg position. While only one arm 80 has been shown in the drawings, yet it will be well understood that a series of these arms may be rovided with a corresponding num- Eanks on the shafts 60 and 70, the wall 100 of the chute 100 being slotted as at 100 to permit passage of the arms 80" so they can project into the path of the cotton. The locus of the point 80- of the arm 80 is designated by dot and dash lines and dotted lines in Figs. 11 and 12, various positions of the point being connectedto the corresponding crank positions, by dotted lines, as shown.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and many advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

What I claim is 1. In a cotton packer provided with a packing box and a follower operating in said box; means for reciprocating said follower, said means including a drive shaft, a pinion mounted thereon, and an endless rack rigid with said follower, means for stopping the reciprocation of the follower. at predetermined times, and a cotton feeding means cooperating with said packing box and follower to deposit the cotton in the box.

'2. In a cotton packing box and a follower operating in said box means for reciprocating said follower, said means including a drive-shaft carrying a pinion and a rack rigid with said follower and driven by said pinion, means for stopping the reciprocation of the follower at predetermined times, a cotton feeding means cooperating with said packing box and the follower to deposit the cotton in the box, and means for stopping the o eration of the cotton feeding means at predetermined times.

3. In a cotton packer provided with a packing box and a follower operable therewith; means for reciprocating said follower in said box, consisting of a shaft carrying a pinion, a rack rigid with said follower and driven by said pinion, and means for shifting said pinion horizontally to effect a continuous drive of said rack a cotton feeding means cooperating with the packing box and folpacker provided with a" lower to deposit the cotton in the box, means for stopping the operation of the cotton feedin means during thereciprocation of the fo lower; and means for stopping the reciprocation of the follower at predetermined times.

4. In a cotton packer provided with a packing box and a follower operable therewith; a drive mechanism for reciprocating said follower including a shaft carrying a pinion and a rack rigid with said follower, a cotton feeding mechanism for projecting cotton into the path of the follower, means for stopping the reciprocation of the follower during the operation of the cotton feeding means, and means controlled by the cotton fed into the path of the follower for releasing the follower stopping means intermittently to re-start the reciprocal movement of the follower.

5. In a cotton packer, a packing box and a follower cooperating therewith, a ower mechanism for reciprocatin said fol ower, means controlled by said fo lower for stopping the reciprocation of itself when nearing the upper limit of its upward beat, means to be started by the follower when nearing its upward beat for starting a cotton feeding mechanism, and the cotton feeding mechanism for delivering cotton into the path of the follower until said mechanism starts the movement of said follower.

6. In a cotton packer, a packing box and a follower cooperating therewith, a plunger carryin said follower, a drive mechanism for said fo lower including a rotatable drive shaft, an endless rack gear carried by said plunger, a inion on said drive shaft for meshing wit said rack gear, a drive pulley on said drive shaft, clutch mechanism for locking said pulley to said drive shaft, automatic means for operating said clutch mech anism, and a cotton feeding mechanism including an operating shaft and feed rollers operated therefrom, said feed mechanism adapted to deliver cotton into the path of the follower, and means controlled by the cotton fed into the path of the follower for releasing said first mentioned automatic clutch operating means.

7. In a cotton packer, a packing box and a follower cooperating therewith, a plunger carrying said follower, a drive mechanism for said follower including a rotatable drive shaft, an endless rack gear carried by said plunger, a pinion on said drive shaft for meshing with said rack gear, a drive pulley on said drive shaft, clutch mechanism for locking said pulley to said drive shaft, automatic means for operating said clutch mechanism, a cotton feeding mechanism including an operating shaft and feed rollers operating therefrom, said feed mechanism adapted to deliver cotton into the path of the follower, means operated by the follower for controlling the feeding mechanism to render the same alternately operative and inoperative at predetermined times, and means controlled bythe cotton fed into the path of the follower for releasing said first mentioned automatic clutch operating means.

8. In a cotton packer, the combination with a packing box and a piston operable therewith, of means for reciprocating said follower, together with a cotton feeding means cooperating with the packing box to feed cotton into the same, means for stopping the operation of the feeding means during the reciprocation of the follower, said cotton feeding means comprising rotatable crank shafts and arms connecting the cranks of said shafts together and projecting into the path of the cotton.

9. In a cotton packer, the combination with a packing box and a follower operable therewith, of means for reciprocating said follower, together with a cotton feeding means cooperating with the packing box to feed the cotton into the same, means for stopping the operation of the cotton feeding means during the reciprocation of the follower, said cotton feeding means comprising a 'cotton chute, a rotatable crank shaft carrying a series of fingers, rocking arms pivotally connected to said fingers for moving said fingers with their ends projected in said chute in one direction, withdrawing the projected ends from the chute and returning them to the starting point while out of the chute and then projecting them into the chute again.

10. In a cotton packer provided with a packing box and a follower; an endless rack gear for reciprocating the follower into and out of the box to pack bales of cotton, a cotton feeding mechanism actuated by the follower on the withdrawal of the follower from the box to feed cotton into the box and. stopped by the follower after the follower starts on its beat to pack cotton into the box, and means actuated by the cotton fed into the box to start the follower reciprocating gear and to stop said gear when the follower is withdrawn from the box and reaches the starting point.

ERAL B. CASS.

Witnesses:

C. E. DUKE, 1. LANE. 

